Here’s What a Mid-Level Professional’s Resume Should Look Like

Great experience doesn’t automatically equate to an impressive resume. Learn how to craft a resume that stands out from the crowd.

As your career evolves, so too should the format of your professional resume. If you’re a few years beyond the entry-level position, it’s time to revamp your personal marketing materials to reflect this status. I recently shared with Business Insider’s Jacquelyn V. Smith a sample resume and my top tips for the mid-level professional. Here are the main takeaways:

Once you’ve been in the working world for a number of years, you’ve earned an additional page of resume real estate. Use the extra space to elaborate on your recent work and professional development activities, highlighting the qualifications that are most relevant to your current job goals. Include your header at the top of both pages to keep your name and contact information accessible and top of mind.

Reorder your resume.

At this point in your career, the emphasis should be placed on the relevant experience you’ve gained. Shift the “Education” section of your resume to the end of your document and focus on the skills you’ve developed since graduation. If you’ve recently completed a certification that’s important to your target role, include the acronym for the certification after your name (i.e. “John Wilkins, PMP”) at the top of the resume and include the details in your “Education” or “Professional Development” section.

Include a list of core competencies.

The top third of your resume should quickly sum up your skills and qualifications for the reader. Underneath your professional summary, incorporate a list of core skills that explain where your expertise lies. If a common term in your industry is often abbreviated, make sure both versions appear throughout your resume (i.e. “Marketing Communications” and “MarCom”).

Describe each role’s responsibilities and achievements.

Under the job title of each position, include a short description that explains your responsibilities. This could include the type and size of the projects you managed, the clients you serviced, the accounts you represented, or the team you supervised. Under each of these descriptions, include a bulleted list of your most notable and relevant contributions and accomplishments. Quantify these accolades whenever possible.

Demonstrate your career progression.

Ideally your resume should be listed in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current position. Dedicate more space and details to your recent work, assuming this is relevant to your job target. Your resume should tell the story of your career. If you stayed with one company for a number of years, use the role description and bullets to explain how you’ve taken on more responsibility over time.